I don't know much about astrology or the oriental calendar.
Thanks to nature lovers at Personal Museum of Natural History (PMNH), I was not oblivious to the fact that 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit.
Their New Year's Greetings (below) made it clear.
Last time around for Year of the Rabbit was in 1999. It follows a 12 year cycle.
Even though they are from Japan, the dynamic duo behind PMNH often travels to France hiking through the Pyrenees and other sites.
The rabbit image was taken in August 2010 at L'île du Girard, a nature reserve in Jura, France.
According to the Chinese Culture Center in San Francisco, here are their general traits:
"People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract."
As for relationships according to the same source:
"They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog."
From a culinary perspective, I wonder if one should abstain to cook or serve Rabbit in 2011, when, where and to whom the rules if there are any apply?
Enlighten me!
(* Thanks to Seiko and Nobuhisa Takano at Personal Museum of Natural History for letting me use their photo)